The arrival of the inaugural International Series Philippines has stirred excitement within the Filipino golfing community, with several local players hailing the event as a golden opportunity to test their skills against global legends on familiar ground.
Boasting a US$2 million prize fund, the tournament is one of nine enhanced events of the Asian Tour this season, assembling the most prestigious lineup, including former Masters champions Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson and Charl Schwartzel, as well as 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen.
Johnson himself remarked on the impressive entry list and shared his enthusiasm to compete in the Philippines for the first time.
“The field is really good, a lot of great players, major winners, quality golfers. Hopefully this becomes something bigger in the future,” he stated, as quoted by AFP.
Reed echoed this enthusiasm, saying he is delighted to still discover new venues to conquer and expand the sport’s reach.
A defining moment for Filipino golfers
Meanwhile, for Filipino golfers like Angelo Que and Miguel Abuena, the fixture at Sta. Elena Golf Club in Manila is not just another stop on the Asian Tour but a unique moment for the country to shine.
Que, a 46-year-old three-time winner on the Asian Tour, underscored the immense value of having a high-calibre field competing in the Philippines, noting that such a platform could ignite a passion for the sport among young Filipinos.
“The International Series is on a different level when it comes to competition,” the veteran said.
“The level of play with these players is so different. It’s just another event for them. But to us, yes, it is somewhat major.”
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Rising above the nerves
Meanwhile, rising star Tabuena expressed a deep sense of pride and responsibility as he revealed that he was a product of the Sta. Elena Golf Club.
“I’d be lying if I said there’s no added pressure; there is,” admitted Tabuena, who is currently in the top 25 of the Asian Tour order of merit.
“But you have to treat it like any other event and not let the pressure break you. Of course, there’s pressure. You can’t avoid it. You have to face it head-on and just let it happen.”
“This is where I grew up playing. I’m very proud that Sta. Elena is actually hosting this event. “
“It’s the biggest event that we’ve ever had in the Philippines.”
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